HelloStampedOfficialU.S. Customs and Border Protection — I-94 Official Website · Last verified
Your I-94 is the date that matters, not your visa stamp
The visa in your passport controls entry. The I-94 controls how long you may stay. People confuse the two and miss the deadline that actually applies to them.
Two documents, two jobs
A visa is a travel document that lets you ask to be admitted at a port of entry. It can expire while you remain lawfully in the United States, and that is not a problem by itself. The I-94 arrival/departure record shows the date until which you are authorized to stay. That date is the one your status depends on.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection — I-94 Official Website · in effect from 2013-04-30
Check it after every entry
Retrieve your most recent I-94 from the Customs and Border Protection website after each entry to the United States. Confirm the class of admission and the admit-until date are what you expect. Errors happen, and they are far easier to correct in the days after an entry than in the months afterwards.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection — I-94 Official Website · in effect from 2013-04-30
Official
Frequently asked questions
- My visa stamp expired but my I-94 is still valid. Am I out of status?
- No. An expired visa affects your ability to re-enter after travelling. Your authorized stay is governed by the admit-until date on your I-94.
- Where do I find my I-94?
- On the CBP I-94 website. Check it after every entry and confirm both the class of admission and the admit-until date.